DCU Leadership Circle Awards Recognise Leading University Supporters
On Friday 26th June, Terence O’Rourke, Chairman of Enterprise Ireland, addressed the audience at the DCU Leadership Circle Dinner and Awards on the positive impact of higher education on Ireland’s progress and prosperity. The event is held annually to recognise the support of key business leaders for DCU initiatives driving economic and social change and to thank the University’s community of supporters for their sustained commitment to the work of DCU.
Three awards were presented by President Brian MacCraith and Chairman of the Educational Trust Board, Larry Quinn, to acknowledge outstanding contributions of individual and corporate partners who support DCU’s accomplishments. The recipients of the awards were Bank of Ireland, Pat McDonagh, a successful entrepreneur from Rolestown, Co. Dublin and Claire Bohan, Director of DCU Student Support and Development.
Larry Quinn commented “Our supporters are a part of DCU’s success story. They have chosen to shape a brighter future for our students and our communities by supporting DCU’s cutting-edge initiatives. Our initiatives would not succeed without dedicated people who put themselves forward to support the University, benefitting generations of students to come.”
Claire Bohan received the Staff Leadership award for her commitment to student wellbeing in DCU and for her leadership of the Student Leadership and Life Skills programme, providing students with supports that help them to flourish in university and after graduation, including mindfulness and meditation, career coaching and CV clinics, and peer mentoring programmes to improve mental health.
Bank of Ireland received the Corporate Leadership award for long-term support of the DCU Sports Academy and for its more recent support of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub providing a collaborative space for students to hone their business skills in the new student centre, which will be completed in 2018.
Pat McDonagh, founder of a number of successful educational technology companies including Avoca Learning, received the Individual Leadership award in recognition for his support of two vital DCU initiatives- UStart, a programme allowing students to bring their business ideas to market, and the Sports Scholarship programme, developing the talents of elite athletes. Dublin footballer Gavin Burke commented “I can safely say that I would not be the player I am today if it were not for the support I received from Pat, which allowed me to devote all my spare time and energy to becoming a better footballer because I did not have to take a part-time job to support my education.”
Pat said of his support for these programmes “We all have the ability to be entrepreneurial but we need to find it in ourselves. When you show people what’s possible, they start thinking they too can do it and to have those supports here in DCU is just phenomenal. I hope that my support for DCU enables young people to take valuable skills with them for the rest of their lives, whether in sport or in business.”
Two DCU graduates returned to campus to tell the audience how a DCU education did just that. Olwen Sheedy and Martin Lynch told the audience that a DCU education gave them the enterprising spirit and solid foundation to build global careers and lead impactful lives after graduation. Olwen, Bachelor of Business Studies 2012, worked for Enterprise Ireland in London for two years before returning to Dublin to work as an accountant in PwC. She told the audience “Education is not measured just by academic results but the experiences that shape the person you become. DCU has given me a value system that is core to every decision I make. DCU teaches you to make an impact. DCU has taught me that if you are fortunate in life, it is your responsibility to share.”
In his keynote speech, Terence O’Rourke described the role played by DCU in a successful Irish economy through its research connections with Irish companies, its graduates in top companies and its spin-out businesses translating the university’s research into tangible social and economic benefits, stating “Today’s students are Ireland’s future leaders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers and I am confident for the future of this University and for the future of Ireland.”
On the night, DCU students showcased their musical talents through a performance by the DCU Dance Society, whose song was composed by Lauren Gaffney, a student on the Bachelor of Music programme in St. Patrick’s College and also Peader Gill, a traditional Irish musician and final year student on the DCU BSc. in Multimedia programme. Attendees on the night included Mary and Martin McAleese, Bill Cullen and Jackie Lavin, Caroline Keeling, CEO of Keelings, Cel O’Reilly, Managing Director of Phillips Electronics Ireland and Tadgh O’Shea, VP of Software Engineering at Fidelity Investments.
President MacCraith concluded “Everybody who has come here tonight to the Leadership Circle Dinner and Awards believes in DCU and is an integral part of the University’s achievements. With the support of our donors, we can achieve so much more than we could alone. The graduates who spoke here tonight are our best ambassadors and demonstrate to our supporters the positive and lasting impact of giving to DCU.”